Sagnac interferometric switch utilizing Faraday rotation

In this paper, a novel fiber-based, magneto-optic switch based on a Sagnac interferometer is presented. Experimental results at 1550 nm are reported and device performance such as extinction ratio for both single-mode and multi-mode fiber is presented. The performance is modeled using an analytical model which includes reflections at magneto-optic interfaces. The paper examines ways to improve the extinction ratio and the performance of the Sagnac configuration. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3058627]